Priyanka Gandhi Calls for CSR Support to Revive Priyadarshini Tea Estate

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a fervent appeal on Saturday for urgent Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to upgrade the ageing machinery at the Priyadarshini Tea Estate, a cooperative lifeline for rehabilitated tribal families in Wayanad, Kerala. In a poignant X post, Vadra highlighted the estate's historical significance and current distress, stating, "It was tragic to hear the plight of the families dependent on the tea estate for their livelihoods. CSR funds are urgently needed to upgrade the machinery and make the estate productive again. It has so much potential…all help is welcome." The call comes amid her ongoing 10-day constituency visit, where she has actively engaged with local issues, including inaugurating drinking water projects and inspecting infrastructure.

Established in 1984 as a government-backed cooperative under the Mananthavady Tribal Panchayat Cooperative Society, Priyadarshini spans 395 acres near Mananthavady and was conceived to empower bonded labourers from Adivasi communities, particularly the Paniya tribe, following the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976 championed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Vadra noted in her post that the initiative freed workers from exploitative conditions, granting them ownership shares and transforming their lives through sustainable tea cultivation.

Recognised as Asia's second-largest tribal resettlement project, it provided employment to over 300 families, blending agriculture with skill-building in plucking, processing, and marketing. The estate's tea factory, museum, and ecotourism ventures—offering tours, tastings, and stays in tree houses—further diversified income, drawing visitors to its emerald hills and trekking spots like Vishwas Point.

However, productivity plummeted due to outdated equipment and financial woes, culminating in a factory shutdown in 2005 before revival in 2007 under new management. Today, worn machinery hampers output, threatening livelihoods in a district where tea sustains 15% of the workforce amid Wayanad's 40% tribal population facing land alienation and migration pressures. Vadra's recent visit to the factory on September 16, where she interacted with workers, underscored these challenges; she witnessed firsthand the estate's role in community resilience but also its vulnerability to economic shifts in Kerala's Rs 1,200 crore tea industry, plagued by low prices and climate impacts. This appeal echoes her February 2025 pledge to mobilise CSR for human-animal conflict mitigation in Wayanad, following a tiger attack at the estate that claimed a worker's life, highlighting intertwined socio-economic and environmental risks.

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The push aligns with national CSR mandates under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, which allocated Rs 25,000 crore in FY24, with 20% directed toward rural development and livelihoods. Local bodies like the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Wayanad have partnered with the estate for ecotourism, but experts estimate Rs 5-10 crore for machinery overhauls to boost yields by 30%. Vadra's advocacy, leveraging her family's legacy in social justice, could attract contributions from corporates like Tata or ITC, known for tea sector interventions. As Wayanad grapples with unemployment at 12% and recent landslides displacing communities, revitalising Priyadarshini symbolises hope for inclusive growth, potentially creating 100 jobs and stabilising incomes for 200 households.

Responses on X have been supportive, with activists and locals amplifying the call, though some urge government grants alongside CSR. Vadra's initiative reinforces her commitment to Wayanad since assuming the MP seat in 2024, blending heritage preservation with modern empowerment in one of India's biodiversity hotspots.

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